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5 eastern destinations for alpine skiing and snowboarding

Snow sports

Taking a break while skiing at Mont Blanc, Quebec.

Photograph by: Photo courtesy Mont Blanc
, Handout photo

If predictions of another snow-laden winter hold true, many skiers and snowboarders in central Canada will make an adventure of it by heading out for a day or overnight trip to some of the region's finest ski hills.

Mont Blanc - It's not Mont Tremblant

Why it's worth the trip: Mont Blanc , near St-Jovite, Que., offers a wonderful experience with good deals on "Ski and Stay" and "Ski, Bed & Breakfast" packages right at the hill. The vertical elevation matches the upper part of Mont Tremblant a few kilometres up the road (Mont Blanc bills itself as the Laurentians' second-highest peak). And since most skiers at Tremblant only ski the entire hill at the end of the day, you probably won't miss Tremblant's extra vertical when you're at Mont Blanc -- especially because, in return, you get smaller crowds, shorter lineups, top-notch grooming and more convenient accommodation. With new, expanded snow-making facilities, Mont Blanc hopes to open earlier and close later this year. If you want to check out local restaurants, though, you'll have to jump to the car and head toward St-Jovite, just up the road.

Tip: If you really feel you have to get to Tremblant (it does offer a lot of skiing area and numerous restaurants), look into the "Mont Blanc -- Tremblant retreat" package, which offers accommodation and two days skiing at Mont Blanc with at third day of skiing at Tremblant.

Why it's worth the trip: Mont Sutton in Quebec's Eastern Townships prides itself on being voted the Best Glades in Canada. If purchase a regular-priced lift ticket after noon the same day, Monday through Friday, you receive a free second weekday ticket for your next visit during the current season (yes, the next day can count as your next visit). Sutton also offers deals at its website, as well as group rates. A free Carte Blanche card, available at Sutton retailers, can be used at Sutton and nearby Owl's Head. The first time you use the card you receive a 20-per-cent discount off the regular-price adult full-day lift ticket. Rebates get bigger every time you use the card; every fifth visit will get you a free full-day lift ticket at either mountain. For the après-ski crowd, there are a number of restaurants in the village of Sutton, about four kilometres down the road, including Amore di Pasta, Bistro Beaux Lieux and Tartin'izza.

Tip: As part of the Ski dans l'Est promotion, you can purchase a package that allows you to ski four areas Mondays through Fridays (Sutton, Bromont, Owl's Head and

Orford) for an average cost of $26 per day (before taxes) when you stay a minimum of one night at one of the participating hotels.

Where: The Eastern Townships, south of Montreal.

When: Depends on the weather. Last year, it opened before the end of November. Watch the website for updates.

Why it's worth the trip: Sainte-Anne is opening a new trail -- its 66th -- this season, called The Beast. A new addition to its expert trails, the Beast, at 65 per cent, boasts one of the steepest descent angles in the East and is rated a double-black diamond run. A new restaurant and café have been added at the peak and $1 million has been invested in new facilities, including new groomers and new snow-making machines. The area is well-served by restaurants offering local cuisine and, for more involved dining, Quebec City is just 30 minutes away. Mont-Sainte-Anne's sister mountain, Stoneham, 40 minutes north of Quebec City, plans to open Nov. 28 and is putting more emphasis on freestyle this season. Stoneham has been accredited as national training centre for freestyle snowboarding and boasts the biggest half-pipe in the East and a new slope-style course after a $1.2-million upgrade project. A World Cup event is coming to the resort early in March.

Tip: Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham offer a dual-mountain ticket rate that allows skiing at either location.

Why it's worth the trip: Gore has developed Burnt Ridge Mountain, one of the New York area's four peaks, adding 50 more acres of skiing terrain, a new high-speed quad chair, six new trails and 200 feet of vertical to bring the total vertical to 2,300 feet. (Note, though, that the new 200 feet is a lower base level on a new slope.) The area also features a new lodge, as well as renovations to the existing base lodge. Après-ski activities offer a number of choices in the town of North Creek, about three kilometres away. Gore Mountain is operated by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority, which also operates Whiteface Mountain at Lake Placid.

Tip: The authority offers ticket packages that work for both Gore and Whiteface.

Where: South of Montreal, in New York State (take appropriate ID for the border and out-of-province health coverage).

Why it's worth the trip: Stowe, in Vermont, is featuring a new mountain lodge and five-star hotel and is in Year 6 of a 10-year expansion. With development on the Mount Mansfield side restricted by its protected status, most of the improvements are taking place on the Spruce Peak side. A new gondola offers a 90-second ride from the Spruce Peak parking lot to the Mansfield runs. The village of Stowe is 11 kilometres down the road and offers more than 35 restaurants for après-ski dining.

Tip: With a two- or three-consecutive-days adult/senior ticket purchase, you can get a quick tune-up for your skis or snowboard.

Where: In the Green Mountains of Vermont (take appropriate ID for the border and out-of-province health coverage).

- George Prazmowski skied 60 days last year. He has regularly skied Eastern Canada and the U.S. for the past 30 years.

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Ski hills in the Ottawa Valley.

If you live in Ottawa and adhere to the 100-mile option for your recreation and social pleasures, you'll find a number of great options in the Ottawa Valley for a day or special overnight trip:

- Ski Vorlage is the only local ski area within walking distance of a village -- Wakefield, which offers a number of options for a lunch break or après-ski dinner. The Wakefield Mill, Pot au Feu, Alpengruss and Chez Eric, among others, offer a variety of dining choices.

- Across the Gatineau River and about eight kilometres from Wakefield, Edelweiss will be putting new snow-making tower guns and a new groomer to work as it moves to seven-nights-a-week night skiing.

- Joining Edelweiss with Sunday-night skiing will be Mont Cascades, which has added lights and snow-making to its Hogan run, and moved its snow park to the Cascade run, with controlled access and new lighting. It's also offering a new pass for weekday evenings and weekend nights that becomes a better deal when you sign up with some friends.

- Calabogie Peaks isn't reporting any major changes this year, but does offer slope-side accommodation with plenty of restaurants in the nearby village for après-ski, such as Murphy's, Shooter and The Duck.

- Mount Pakenham has added five glade runs to its facilities as well as a new tubing run and provided new lift access for the terrain park. Après-ski in the village of Pakenham can be found at Centennial restaurant and the Copper Kettle. Check out the General Store when you're passing through for some "old-time" atmosphere.

- Camp Fortune and Mont Ste Marie are not reporting any significant changes this year, and continue to offer their Dual Mountain Advantage, which allows you to upgrade a season pass at one location to a pass good for both. If you're planning to head out to Banff this year, you can ski at Mount Norquay for 50-per-cent off with your Fortune/Marie Season Pass. For après-ski while at Camp Fortune, head into Chelsea and enjoy the flavour of the Chelsea Pub or go up-scale at L'Orée du Bois.